By Scout Nelson
CHS Chief Executive Officer and President Jay Debertin is set to visit South Dakota State University on April 24. He will speak in the ECON 319 Seminar with Industry Leaders class, where students engage directly with experienced professionals. The session provides a valuable opportunity for students to learn from real-world business leaders.
The course, led by Joseph Santos, focuses on helping students understand challenges and opportunities across industries. It encourages open discussion and critical thinking. Students learn how leaders make decisions and respond to economic and business situations. Through these conversations, students improve their ability to analyze problems and express their ideas clearly.
The seminar includes professionals from different sectors such as banking, government, and agribusiness. This helps students gain broad knowledge and connect classroom learning with real-life experiences. Active participation allows students to build confidence and develop important career skills.
“For students at a land-grant university in South Dakota, that conversation has immediate geographic and economic relevance,” Santos said. “It is not a case study from a textbook. It is the actual person making the decisions.”
Debertin brings many years of leadership experience. He was named president and CEO of CHS in 2017 and has worked with the company since 1984. He continues to guide company strategies and support farmers through strong supply chains and business growth.
His background in agriculture adds value to his role. He grew up in Minnesota’s Red River Valley, where farming and cooperative systems play an important role. His education includes degrees from the University of North Dakota and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Debertin also serves on several boards, including Ventura Foods LLC, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and Securian Financial.
“He carries a particular weight for students at SDSU,” Santos said. “Agribusiness is not an abstraction for them. He can speak to the strategic pressures facing farm cooperatives, the economics of global commodity markets and the leadership decisions that determine outcomes for thousands of farmers.”
The event is open to students, faculty, staff, and community members and takes place at Woster Celebration Hall on April 24 from 10:00-10:50 a.m.
Photo Credit: south-dakota-state-university
Categories: South Dakota, General